Teachers have been raising the alarm for some time, but class size and composition remains a pressing concern.

The President of the NL Teachers’ Association, Dale Lambe, says while classroom sizes have fluctuated over the years, the needs of students have changed, and large class sizes only make teachers’ jobs all the more challenging.

Learning disabilities, behavioural issues, challenges at home and even sometimes language skills require differing levels of support and attention.

Lambe says it’s an ongoing issue that has to be addressed. Otherwise, we run the risk of losing more teachers from the system.

“The 28 to 30 students that existed 15 years ago certainly are a lot different now. Our teachers need the supports in place to make sure that those students are looked after and that the work conditions are favourable so that they stay.”

He says they’d like to see more graduates from MUN’s Faculty of Education, and favourable working conditions will entice more students to pick a teaching career and keep current teachers in the system.